Show of Dough for SciFi
I previously asked for a “Show of Hands for SciFi” to which Joanne, Chris, Sam, Patch and Lewis Empire responded. How about that unexpected link love, eh?
So, this quarter’s question will be same topic, different outlay. Would you pay to read new SciFi (actually, SciFi, Fantasy or Horror)? New content would be posted weekly, and you could subscribe for x number of weeks.
Why subscriptions instead of ads, like Google AdSense? Because AdSense pays in pennies and writers like to be paid in dollars. It just doesn’t balance out.
So, that leads to the next question, how much would you be willing to pay? Basically, you’d be able to read a new short story each week. In some cases, a longer story may be serialized.
I’d summarize for those with short attention spans, but if your attention is that short, short stories are probably too long for you, so the odds are your answer is “no.”
And, you do not have to have previously replied in the “Show of Hands for SciFi.” Hopefully, I’ve gained readers in the two months since that question!
How about a teaser, first?
See Wednesday’s post…
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After that teaser, I think I would pay one meeeeilion dollars. But since I do not have that kind of money, I cannot. If I did, I’d publish you for sure.
Maybe try a free intro to the story and then $1 for the remainder? It could add up quick. I don’t have a clue as to what an acceptable pricing schedule would be. Are there any other writers that are doing this?
I’m sure we can work out an installment plan.
I had a similar discussion with a writer a couple years ago. Something similar came up. Another option (don’t remember which was his idea and which was mine) was to accept voluntary payments, and not release the next installment until x amount had been reached. But, I think people would prefer to get something when they pay, rather than wait to see if enough other people pay.
Another option would be a variable system, whereby the next installment’s pricing would be based on the previous installment’s sales.
Simplicity is probably best. Free teaser, then $x for the whole story, like you suggested. Maybe $1 for a short story and $5 for a novel?
Installment plan? How about a dollar a year for one million years?
I think your pricing schedule seems reasonable, but there’s a lot of people out there who despise reading on-screen. You could always go the Cory Doctorow route and give it away online, while offering up a print version. Not sure how he got that to work so well. His writing is good, but that fairy short story blows his away.